Bengaluru, Feb 14

hief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan held multiple high-level engagements at Aero India 2025, demonstrating India’s willingness to forge strategic defence partnerships. Key interactions included meetings with General Kevin B Schneider, Commander Pacific Air Force (USA), Lord Vernon Coaker , Minister of State for Defence (UK) and Air Vice Marshal Suraya Marshall (UK), Lt Gen Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi (UAE), Maj Gen Duong Van Yen (Vietnam), Maj Gen Ro Jone Kalouniwai Logavatu (Fiji), General Paul Velentino Phiri (Malawi), Lt Gen Salum Haji Othman (Tanzania) and Vice Admiral Exon Oswaldo Ascencio Albeno (El Salvador). The discussions centered on enhanced military cooperation, capacity building, and strategic partnerships in the defence sector.

The CDS engaged extensively with global defence industry leaders, conducting strategic discussions with executives from major aerospace companies including Saab AB, Airbus, Israel Aerospace Industries, BAE Systems, Dassault Aviation, and Rolls Royce. These interactions centered on indigenous manufacturing, technology transfer, and the development of niche capabilities under India’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

General Chauhan also visited various defence pavilions, engaging with both Indian and foreign defence equipment manufacturers, MSMEs, and startups. He witnessed impressive displays of military aircraft from friendly foreign countries and received comprehensive briefings on the capability and performance parameters, including the F-35 from the USA, MRTT from Germany, A400 from Spain, SU-57 from Russia and H125 from France, underlining India’s commitment to fostering international defence collaboration while strengthening domestic capabilities.

In a notable development, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh had unveiled a landmark document on ‘Network Centric Multi Domain Operations’ in the presence of key military leadership. This pivotal document, created by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff , outlines the roadmap for preparing the Indian Armed Forces for future warfare, emphasizing decision superiority in an increasingly data-centric environment amidst rapidly evolving military technologies.

The visit of General Chanegriha Said, Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Defence and Chief of Staff of Algeria’s People’s National Army, marked a significant milestone in Indo-Algerian defence relations. During his comprehensive tour of India’s vital defence establishments and industrial complexes, General Chanegriha expressed strong satisfaction with the similarities in military traditions and cultures between both nations, setting the stage for enhanced military cooperation and defence modernization initiatives.

Aero India 2025 has emerged as a landmark event in India’s defence ecosystem, showcasing the nation’s growing stature as both a significant market and an emerging producer of defence technology. The unprecedented participation of military leaders from diverse nations, coupled with engagements with global defence industry giants, underscores India’s pivotal role in shaping international defence partnerships. The exhibition’s success not only highlights India’s commitment to achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing but also positions the country as a reliable partner for joint development and production of advanced military systems, marking a significant step toward realizing the vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World.’

Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) demonstrated robust military diplomacy at Aero India 2025, under the leadership of Lt Gen JP Mathew, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC). The senior Indian delegation, including Lt General DS Rana, Director General Defence Intelligence Agency and Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Deputy Chief PP&FD conducted extensive bilateral discussions, industry interactions and defence capability assessments, advancing India’s strategic defence partnerships.

Lt Gen JP Mathew’s engagement with Lt Gen Augustine S Malanit, Inspector General of the Armed Forces of Philippines emphasised the need for deeper bilateral military cooperation and exploring opportunities in defence procurement. The CISC also interacted with  Israel’s Elbit Systems representatives, reaffirming the strong India-Israel defence partnership. Demonstrating India’s commitment to defense modernization, he received briefings on the capabilities and performance parameters of various aircraft and also carried out assessments of advanced military systems showcased by the domestic and international defence industry at the Aero India 2025.         

Vice Admiral Vatsayan engaged with Maj Gen Ramanka Mokaloba, Chief of Logistics, Lesotho Defence Forces, exploring defense export possibilities. Additional strategic dialogues were conducted with Maj Gen Andrei Matsiyevich, First Deputy Chief of General Staff of Belarusian Armed Forces, strengthening military cooperation with these nations. He also spearheaded crucial meetings with global defense industry leaders from MBDA (Europe), L3Harris (America), Hensoldt (Germany), and Boeing (USA). These strategic interactions concentrated on technology transfer initiatives and establishing defense production facilities under the Make in India initiative, with special emphasis on integrating startups and MSMEs into the defence manufacturing ecosystem.

A series of high-level bilateral meetings showcased India’s growing diplomatic outreach. Notable engagements included discussions with the Japanese delegation led by Mr Kegoya Masanori, Deputy Director General for Global Combat Air Program (GCAP).  The Italian delegation, under Lt Gen Giuseppe Lupoli, Director of Italian Air Armaments and Air Worthiness Directorate and the French team led by Lt Gen Gael Diaz de Tuesta, engaged in comprehensive discussions on defence manufacturing and technology exchange.

Lt General DS Rana held productive discussions with Brig Gen Ahmed Ghiyas, Vice Chief of Defence Force from Maldives, focusing on joint training opportunities. He held substantive talks on enhancing bilateral military cooperation with the German contingent, headed by Lt Gen (OF-8) Thorsten Michael Poshwatta of the German Air Force, accompanied by Ambassador Philip Ackermann. DG DIA also visited various defence pavilions and stalls at Aero India 2025, where he reviewed advancements in military technology, simulators and warfighting systems, supporting the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.    

The engagements held during Aero India 2025 not only strengthen India’s position as an emerging defense manufacturing hub but also advance the nation’s vision of achieving self-reliance in defense production while fostering meaningful international partnerships for global security cooperation. These strategic interactions  underscore India’s focus on self-reliance, innovation and the development of robust international defence collaborations.